James.  You may say so.  What did you give her, Mr. Shand?

John [suddenly deserted by God and man].  Me?

Alick.  Yes, yes, let’s see it.

John.  Oh—­I—­

[He is not deserted by Maggie, but she can think of no way out.]

Sybil [prompted by the impediment, which is in hiding, quite close]. 
Did he ... forget?

[There is more than a touch of malice in the question.  It is a challenge, and the Wylies as a family are almost too quick to accept a challenge.]

Maggie [lifting the gage of battle].  John forget?  Never!  It’s a pendant, father.

[The impediment bolts.  John rises.]

Alick.  A pendant?  One of those things on a chain?

[He grins, remembering how once, about sixty years ago, he and a lady and a pendant—­but we have no time for this.]

Maggie.  Yes.

David [who has felt the note of antagonism and is troubled].  You were slow in speaking of it, Mr. Shand.

Maggie [This is her fight.] He was shy, because he thought you might blame him for extravagance.

David [relieved].  Oh, that’s it.

James [licking his lips].  Let’s see it.

Maggie [a daughter of the devil].  Where did you put it, John?

[JOHN’s mouth opens but has nothing to contribute.]

Sybil [the impediment has stolen back again].  Perhaps it has been ... mislaid.

[The brothers echo the word incredulously.]

Maggie.  Not it.  I can’t think where we laid it down, John.  It’s not on that table, is it, James? [The Wylies turn to look, and MAGGIE’s hand goes out to lady Sybil:  John Shand, witness.  It is a very determined hand, and presently a pendant is placed in it.] Here it is! [Alick and the brothers cluster round it, weigh it and appraise it.]

Alick.  Preserve me.  Is that stone real, Mr. Shand?

John [who has begun to look his grimmest].  Yes.

Maggie [who is now ready, if he wishes it, to take him on too].  John says it’s a drop of his blood.

John [wishing it].  And so it is.

David.  Well said, Mr. Shand.

Maggie [scared].  And now, if you’ll come with me, I think John has something he wants to talk over with Lady Sybil. [Recovering and taking him on.] Or would you prefer, John, to say it before us all?

Sybil [gasping].  No!

John [flinging back his head].  Yes, I prefer to say it before you all.

Maggie [flinging back hers].  Then sit down again.

[The Wylies wonderingly obey.]

Sybil.  Mr. Shand, Mr. Shand!—­

John.  Maggie knows, and it was only for her I was troubled.  Do you think I’m afraid of them? [With mighty relief] Now we can be open.